Dickey, Whit
Tao Forms, 2022, CD
Instrument: Drums
Issue: 28.1
Jazz Ruler Type: Avant Garde
Performance: 4
Sound: 3
Score: 81
O’s Notes: Veteran drummer Whit Dickey launched his TAO Forms label in May 2020, dedicated to advancing modern, free jazz initiatives. Staircase In Space is his latest release, a quartet with Rob Brown (a-sax), Mat Maneri (viola) and Brandon Lopez (b). They open with “Blue Circuit” that starts sleepy before waking to a spirited beginning, one of five adventurous selections that foster controlled aggression between the musicians. Dickey’s trio excludes the overtalk that plagues many free jazz recordings allowing listeners to focus and absorb their spontaneous expressions. “Signify” and “Staircase In Space” are notable.
Publicist: Fully Altered Media
